Dispensing device



Oct. 22, 1940.

H. H. MANDLE DISPENS ING DEVICE Filed Sept. 22, 195 4 Sheets-Sheet l A/iomeys Oct. 22, 1940- H. H. MANDLE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Sept. 22, 193

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Affomeys O 2 1940- H. H. MANDLE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Sept. 22, 193' 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aim/ways Oct. 22, 1940. H. H. MANDLE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Sept. 22 193 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 22, 1940' UmrEn STATES DISPENSING DEVICE Henry Hayman Mandle, Cluster, N. J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to United States Metal Powders, 1110;, Baltimore, Md. j

Application September 22, 1937, Serial No. 165,001

. In- Great Britain October 13, 1936 r 7 Claims.

In the production of metal powders, particularly in the case of the so-calledv bronze powders, it is desirable to be able to add small quantities of solid or semi-solid lubricant to the material being comminuted and to the comminuted material being polished. Particularly in the latter stage it is desirable that the appropriate small quantity be introduced into the polishing drum simultaneously with the powder and in precisely measured amounts corresponding to the actual amount of powder introduced so that the total quantity of lubricant required is substantially uniformly distributed among the contents of the drum, as satisfactory results are not obtained if the same total quantities are introduced into the drum separately and are first mixed by the action of the drum.

The dispensing arrangement according to t invention is intended primarily for the above purpose, but can be utilised in conjunction with other apparatus or processes where it is desired to admit a succession of small measured quantitles of a powder or paste.

The arrangement according to the invention consists essentially of a moving member provided with apertures or series of apertures which in the movement of the member are moved successively from within a container for the material to be dispensed to a discharge station external to the container and provided with selectively operable means for acting on the material contained in the desired aperture or series of apertures in the moving member to cause the discharge of said material.

Preferably the moving member is in the form of a rotary disc mounted with its upper surface lying substantially in the bottom of the container and disposed partly within the container whereby in the rotation of the disc the apertures are moved successively from within the chamber t the discharge station.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood two constructional forms will now be described with reference to Figs. 1-3 and Figs.

4-7 of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation in section along the line- I-I of Fig. 2,

Fig. 2 is a plan in section along the line lI--II of Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is an elevatioin in section along the line In each case the apertured member is a rotary disc and the co-operating selectively operable means at the discharge station comprises a rotatable block having at different portions the various combinations of discharge means corresponding 5 to the desired combinations of apertures from which it is desired to discharge material simultaneously.

Referring now to the drawings, in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same ref- 10 erence numerals:

The material to be dispensed is containedin the vessel l which is closed by the cover 2 which can be held in the closed position by means of a nut. At the lower end the vessel I is closed 15 by a plate 5 which is provided with a circular recess accommodating a circular disc 6 of such thickness that its upper surface lies in the upper surface of the plate 5. The disc 6 is secured on a shaft I which carries a worm wheel 8 which 20 is driven by means of a worm 9 on the shaft l0.

Disposed in the bottom of the vessel I on a central shaft l3 are radial arms I4, l5. These arms are in the form of flat blades inclined to the vertical and extending down close to the up- 25 per surface of the plate 5 and the disc 6. They are inclined in opposite directions so that for example the arms I4 serve as spatula members smoothing the material against the bottom of the vessel while the arms I5 are agitating members 30 stirring the material and lifting it away from the bottom so that no caking or balling can occur.

The disc 6 is provided with a number of apertures lying on zones of different radius, as best seen from Figs. 2 and 5. During the rotation of 35 the disc G and of the arms l4 and IS the series of holes will be completely filled as they pass through the bottom of the vessel I and will convey the material in the apertures from the vessel to a point of discharge l6. At It means are 40 provided for causing the material contained in the apertures to be discharged in to a delivery chute I1 which in the embodiment shown leads to a main chute l8 through which passes the material to which accurate doses of the lubricant 45 or other material contained in the vessel I are to be added. To facilitate the discharge of the material from the apertures in the disc 6 the apertures are preferably made so as to widen downwardly as indicated in Fig. 1. The discharge of 50 the material can be assisted by balls of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the apertures and the action of the balls may be occasioned solely by gravity as in Fig. 5 or they may be spring-loaded as in Fig. 1. Itwould of ated means positively entering the aperture to discharge the material at the discharge point It. With such an arrangement, however, it would be necessary to provide an intermittent rotation of the disc 6 and to operate the plungers or equivalent members while the disc 6 is at rest.

The arrangement is simpler if weight or spring- A springor weight-loaded ball or equivalent discharging means is provided in each of the individual openings or combinations of openings, so that in accordance with the setting of the block I! the contents of the appropriate apertures orv combination of apertures can be discharged from the disc 6 at the point l6. It will be apparent that only the selected apertures or combination of apertures is discharged and that the contents of the remaining apertures are conveyed back to the vessel l. The block I9 is provided with a plate 2| whereby it can be rotated conveniently. If desired the block can be rotated while the dispensing device is operating so as to vary the amount discharged in accordance with requirements.

To assist the discharge of the material from the apertures in the disc 6 and to ensure that the material discharged passes through the conduit I! to the main conduit 18 the shaft 20 can' pressed gas can be passed. At the upper-end of the shaft 20 a lateral opening 24 is provided communicating with a passage 25 in the block I! from which the gas can pass round the ejecting ball or balls and through the apertures in the disc 6 to the conduit l1; To enable the passage of the lubricant to be observed, a sight glass 26 may be incorporated between the point of discharge l6 and the conduit [1.

Reference will now be made more particularly to the construction shown in Figs. 1-3.

The cover 2 is held in position by a nut engaging the threaded end 3 of a bolt 4 which extends from the plate 5 and also serves in con- With three diflerent zones as shown in Fig. 2 it is possible to discharge seven diflerent quantities in each rotation of the disc 6 by emptying the apertures of one or more zones. is provided with seven series of holes corresponding to the seven possible combinations.

Reference will now. be made more particularlyv to the modified construction shown in Figs. 4- 7.

As best seen from Fig. 5, the plate 6 instead of being provided with equal numbers of apertures of different size on concentric zones lying at dif- The block N, Fig. 2,

amass: v course be possible to utilise mechanically .actuferent distances from the centre as in Fig. 2, is now provided with aperture of equal size in such zones, but the number of apertures in the difierent zones varies. Fbur zones are provided. there being five apertures in the outer zone and the number of apertm'es in the consecutive zones diminishing down to the inner zone which contains two apertures only. It is apparent that with this arrangement each rotation of'the disc 6 will resuit in the delivery of a definite quantity of material according to which zone or zones of apertures are discharged through the channel H.

The rotary block I! with the balls for the selectiv'e discharge of the desired ringsand openings in the disc O'diifers from the construction shownin Fig. l in that the loading of the balls is effected by weights in the form of further balls and not by springs, While the housing accommodating the member I 3 is closed at the top by a plate 21 and the spindle 26 with which the disc 19 rotates extends through the plate 21 and carries a disc 28 provided with a detent arrangement 23 including a spring-urged pin '30 adapted to engage in one of a number of spaced recesses provided in the top of the plate 21. In this way the block I! is positively held in the desired operative position.- The precise position of the block l9 can be determined by reference to a scale on the periphery of the disc 23 in conjunction with a pointer 31. The block I! is provided with nine different arrangements or combinations of balls corresponding to nine of the different possible combinations of the four zones of apertures.

The cover plate 2 of the vessel I is secured by threaded bolts 4 as in the construction of Fig. 1 but the-cover plate is provided with a central filling opening with an independent cover 32.

which can be clamped in the closed position by a hinged bar 33 and a win-nut 34. In this way more convenient access is afforded to the interior of the vessel I.

As in the first embodiment, the material discharged from the disc 6 passes'through the sight glass .26 into the conduit II which joins the conduit l8, through which passes the metal powder or other material to which the dose of lubricant or the like from the vessel I is to be added. As best seen from Fig. 6, the conduit H in the construction of Figs. 4-7 extends vertically downwardly from the sight glass 26 but instead of directly joining the conduit [6 both the conduits extend to a paddle valve constituted by a. vaned wheel 35 rotating in a housing 36. By the use of such a rotating paddle valve it is ensured that each dose of lubricant or the like is admixed with the appropriate quantity of metal powder or other material from the conduit l8 before leaving the paddle valve 35 and passing to the apparatus where it receives'further treatment.

To ensure the desired relative speed of rotation of the paddle wheel and of the disc 6, a gear wheel 31 on the shaft ll engages in a gear wheel 38 on a shaft 39 whichcarries a further gear wheel 40 engaging a gear wheel 4| on the shaft 42 of the paddle valve 35. The drive for the entire device may be effected either by way of the shaft I0 as in Figs. 1 and 2 or the shaft 33.

To enable samples of the material passing through the conduit [3 to be taken from time to time, the conduit I8 is provided with a branch 43 carrying a cook 44 to the outlet of which a container 45 can be secured by means of a bayonet connection, a slot 46 in'the container 45 cooperating with the pin 41 on the housing of the cock. By employing a hollow tap as shown in Fig. 6 it is possible to take samples from the material passing through the conduit l8 without at any time placing the conduit i8 in communicationlwith the outer atmosphere.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for separating and delivering measured quantities of material such as powder or paste comprising a container for the material, a discharge station external to the container, an apertured moving member, the apertures in which are moved successively from within the container to outside the container by the movement of the member, means at said dis charge station acting selectively on the material in the desired apertures in the moving member to cause the discharge thereof, comprising an adjustable member having an opening therein the boundary surfaces of which continuously cover and engage with the opposite faces of said apertured member and means fitting between the container and the discharge means and in engagement with opposite faces of the apertured member for maintaining the apertures continuously sealed throughout their passage from the container to the discharge station and back to the container.

' 2. Apparatus for separating and delivering measured quantities of material such as powder or paste, comprising a container, an apertured rotary disc mounted with its upper surface lying substantially in the bottom of the container and disposed partly within the container, a discharge station through which the rotary disc passes outside the container, rotary adjustable means at said discharge station acting selectively on the material in one or the other of the apertures in the disc to cause the discharge thereof, and.

means for continuously engaging opposite faces of the disc between the container and the discharge means, said discharge means being also disposed in continuous engagement with the opposite faces of the disc for sealing the apertures.

3. Apparatus for separating and. delivering measured quantities of material, comprising the combination of an apertured member having apertures formed in different annular zones thereof and means for filling the apertures with the material, means for discharging the material from selected apertures comprising balls of larger diameter than the apertures acting from above on the material in the apertures and adjustable rotary means for selectively positioning the balls for cooperation with one or more selected zones of apertures.

4. Apparatus for separating and delivering measured quantities of material as set forth in claim 3 inwhich the balls of the discharge means are arranged singly and in groups upon different radii according to zones and zone combinations, to enable any zone or zones to be selected for continuous discharge by rotary adjustment of the discharge means, and which further includes means for positioning said block with a single ball or a group of balls located'for co-operation .g with selected apertures in the moving apertured member.

5. An apparatus for separating and delivering measured quantities of material, the combination of a rotary member provided with a plurality of groups of openings similarly located with reference to the axis of said rotary member and a plurality of single openings located at a different distance from the axis of said rotary member than said groups of openings, means for filling the apertures with the material and means for discharging the material selectively from said single openings or said groups of openings comprising a rotatable member having a guideway adapted to be positioned over one of said single openings and a second guideway adapted to be positioned over one group of said groups of openings, a ball positioned in said first named guideway, a plurality of balls positioned in said second guideway and means for rotating said rotary member.

6. Apparatus for separating and delivering measured quantities of material such as powder or paste, comprising a container, a rotary disc mounted with its upper surface lying substantially in the bottom of the container and disposed partly within the container, apertures extending through said rotary disc and increasing in crosssection from top to bottom, a discharge station through which the rotary disc passes outside the container, means at said discharge station acting selectively on the material in the desired apertures in the disc to cause the discharge thereof, said means comprising a rotatable control member having spaced apart surfaces in continuous engagement with the upper and lower surfaces of said rotary disc and means fitting between the container and the discharge means and in engagement with opposite faces of the apertured member for maintaining the apertures continuously sealed throughout their passage from the container to the discharge station and back to the container.

7. An apparatus for separating and delivering measured quantities of material, the combination of a rotary member provided with at least three apertures located at increasing distances from the axis of said member, a container for the material into which said rotary member extends, a discharge outlet located at one side of said container and an adjustable member mounted above said discharge outlet and having an'aperture arranged to connect said discharge outlet with the inner of said three apertures in a first position of said adjustable member, a second aperture arranged to connect said discharge outlet with both the inner and central of said apertures in a second position of saidadiustable member, and a third aperture arranged to connect said discharge outlet with all three of said apertures in a third position of said adjustable member, said apertures having different diameters, and said adjustable member being provided with a plurality of balls larger than the diameters of said apertures, respectively, and arranged to be seated therein upon rotation of said rotary member.

,mmrrmmm MANDLE. 

